Chamelaucium (waxflower) plant named Madonna

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid cultivar (known commercially as waxflower) distinguished by its strong and erect flowering stems; upright and semi-open growth habit; dense terminal floral display; dark red flower bud color; red purple flower color; and good postharvest longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chamelaucium (Waxflower), botanically known as an interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Madonna.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned and controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors in Coorow, Western Australia, Australia. The new cultivar originated from a deliberate cross by the inventors between two different species of the genus Chamelaucium. An unnamed selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum was used as the female or seed parent and the Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride (not patented) was used as the male of pollen parent. Twenty days after the cross-pollination, the immature seed pod was harvested and the developing embryos were aseptically dissected and transferred onto a nutrient agar-based medium for further development. Mature plants developed from these dissected embryos. The cultivar Madonna was discovered and selected by the inventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Coorow, Western Australia, Australia.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by cuttings taken at Coorow, Western Australia, Australia, and Escondico, Calif., has shown that the nique features of this new Chamelaucium plant are stabilized and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Chamelaucium. These characteristics in combination distingish Madonna as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Strong and erect flowering stems.

2. Upright and semi-open growth habit.

3. Dense terminal floral display.

4. Dark red flower bud color.

5. Red purple flower color.

6. Good postharvest longevity.

The new Chamelaucium differs from its seed parent, the selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chamelaucium flower faster than plants of the seed parent.

2. The petal shape of plants of the new Chamelaucium is round whereas the petal shape of plants of the seed parent is obovate.

3. The flower bud color is darker red on plants of the new Chamelaucium than the flower bud color on plants of the seed parent.

4. At maturity, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is red purple whereas the petal color of the seed parent is white.

5. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have more flowers per stem and appear more dense and full than plants of the seed parent.

6. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have broader flowering stems compared to plants of the seed parent.

The new Chamelaucium differs from its pollen parent, the Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride, in the following characteristics:

1. The petal shape of the new Chamelaucium is round whereas the petal shape of Purple Pride is obovate.

2. The petal color of the new Chamelaucium when opening is white compared to the purple petal color of Purple Pride. At maturity, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is a lighter red purple than the petal color of Purple Pride. The flower color development rate is slower for plants of the new Chamelaucium compared to plants of the pollen parent. The floral tube color is also different, as the floral tube of the new Chamelaucium is yellow green and the floral tube of Purple Pride is red brown.

3. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have more flowers per stem and appear more dense and full than plants of Purple Pride.

The new Chamelaucium can be compared to the Chamelaucium cultivar Revelation, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 8,791. Plants of Madonna differ from plants of Revelation in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have shorter internodes, shorter leaves, smaller flower buds and longer peduncles than plants of Revelation.

2. The petal color of the new Chamelaucium at maturity is red purple compared to the light violet petal color of Revelation. The flower color development rate is slower for plants of the new Chamelaucium compared to plants of Revelation.

3. The floral tube color at the distal end is yellow green on plants of the new Chamelaucium and the floral tube color at the distal end is purple brown on plants of Revelation.

4. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have smooth floral tubes compared to the prominently fluted floral tubes of plants of Revelation.

A detailed comparison of the new Chamelaucium, its parents and Revelation plants appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

The new Chamelaucium plant has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature and light level, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The accompanying colored photographs show typical specimens of the vegetative growth and flowers of the new Chamelaucium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering stems of the new Chamelaucium plant grown in Escondido, Calif. This photograph shows the upright and semi-open growth habit of flowering stems of the new Chamelaucium.

The second and third photographs comprise close-up views of the new Chamelaucium's flowers showing the cultivar's unique petal colors that change with the development of the flower.

In the second photograph, flower buds are dark red; and as the flowers open, the petal color is white with a slight pale pink blush.

In the third photograph, flowers shown are mature and petal color is increasingly becoming red purple in color.

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisons describe plants grown in Escondido, Calif. Values representing size of plants, flowers and foliage are averages of plants produced under standard commercial cultural practices. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--An interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid, Chamelaucium megalopetalum×Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Madonna.

Commercial.--Hybrid waxflower.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.--Selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum (not patented).

Male or pollen parent.--Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride (not patented).

Plant description:

Form.--Erect, branched woody shrub.

Growth habit.--vigorous, rigid and upright. Semi-open growth habit.

Flowering stem length.--1.5 to 2 m.

Foliage description.--Numerous leaves on one- and two-year-old wood; opposite arrangement; sessile; and aromatic. Internode length: 10 mm. Leaf size: Length: 14 mm. Width: 1.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Texture: Glabrous.Margin: Entire. Aspect: Flat and thick. Color: Dark green sometimes with red tint.

Flower description:

Flowering season.--Flowers develop and open throughout the spring.

Flower longevity.--Flower are long-lasting on the plant and after cutting, flowers and calyx persistent.

flowering habit.--Flowers develop on thin first-year stems from upper axils. Numerous flowers arranged in terminal clusters, broad and dense floral display.

Flower shape.--Rounded outline, flattened cup-shaped floral tube with rounded, slightly cupped, orbicular petals.

Flower diameter.--1.8 cm.

Flower bud.--Form: Rounded, covered with thin deciduous bracteoles. Diameter: 6 mm prior to petal opening. Color: With operculum: Dark red (46A). Without operculum: White (155D) to pale purple. Bud tube: Green (143C).

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Shape: Rounded, slightly cupped and orbicular. Diameter: 9 mm. Texture: Waxy. Calyx: Five calyx lobes arranged alternately between petals. Color: When opening: White (155D) with pale pink blush at times. Developing flowers: White (155D) background with pink (62A) areas at petal distal ends and venation. Mature flowers: As flowers age, petals become more uniformly red purple (59D). Flower nectary, immature: Yellow green (154A). Flower nectary, mature: Red brown (178A). Calyx lobe, mature: Pale pink/purple. Floral tube: Fluting: Slight to absent. Outling: Flared. Diameter: 8 mm.Color: Midpoint: Yellow green. Distal end: Yellow green. Peduncles: Length: 13 to 14 mm. Aspect: Upright and erect. Color: Green. Fragrance: Aromatic when crushed.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Quantity: Ten fertile stamens with ten infertile stamenoids arranged alternatively between stamens. Staminoidal outline: Narrow to medium, triangular. Stamenoidal collar color, mature: Very pale pink to purple. Anthers, mature: Width: 0.7 mm. Color: Brown (200D). Filaments: Length: 2.5 mm. Color: White.Pollen: Color: Green brown. Texture: Waxy and sticky. Pistils: Quantity: One. Style: Length: 7 mm. Color: Immature: White (155D). Mature: Light violet (84B). Stigma: Color, mature: Yellow (17B). Texture: Bearded and pubescent.

Fruit.--Shape: Hemispherical. Form: Three-celled capsule formed by the hardened base of the persistent calyx.

Disease resistance: No resistance or susceptibility to plant pathogens has been

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                                            PURPLE   Chamelaucium                                                          PRIDE,   megapetalum                                        CHARAC-   MA-      pollen   selection,                                                                              REVELA-                                   TERISTIC  DONNA    parent   seed parent                                                                             TION                                      ______________________________________                                         FLOWER BUD                                                                               Dark red Dark red Red      Dark red                                  COLOR, WITH                                                                              46A      46A      46B      46A                                       OPERCULUM                                                                      BUD COLOR,                                                                               White    Pale     White    White                                     WITHOUT   155D     purple   155B     155D                                      OPERCULUM          80A                                                         BUD TUBE  Green    Green    Light    Green                                     COLOR     143C     146A     green    to violet                                                             145A     144A to                                                                        77B                                       PETAL SHAPE,                                                                             Round    Obovate  Obovate  Round                                     AFTER                                                                          OPENING                                                                        PETAL COLOR,                                                                             White    Purple   White    White                                     WHEN      155D     78A      155B     155C                                      OPENING                                                                        PETAL COLOR                                                                              Slow     Medium   Slow     Fast                                      DEVELOPMENT                                                                    RATE                                                                           PETAL COLOR,                                                                             Red      Red      White    Light                                     MATURE    purple   purple   155D     violet                                              59D      59B/59C           84B                                       FLOWER    Yellow   Light    Green    Green                                     NECTARY   green    brown    148A     146D                                      COLOR,    154A     177D                                                        IMMATURE                                                                       FLOWER    Red      Dark     Green    Green                                     NECTARY   Brown    purple   146B/    147A                                      COLOR,    178A     187A     146C                                               MATURE                                                                         STAMINOIDAL                                                                              Narrow/  Broad,   Medium,  Narrow,                                   OUTLINE   medium,  triangular                                                                              triangular                                                                              triangular                                          triangular                                                           STAMINOIDAL                                                                              Very pale                                                                               Pale pink/                                                                              White    Very pale                                 COLLAR    pink/    purple            pink/purple                               COLOR,    purple                                                               MATURE                                                                         CALYX LOBE                                                                               Pale pink/                                                                              Pale pink/                                                                              White    Pale purple                               COLOR,    purple   purple                                                      MATURE                                                                         STYLE COLOR,                                                                             Light    Purple   White    Light violet                              MATURE    violet                     84B                                                 84B                                                                  FLORAL TUBE                                                                              Slight/  Slight   Slight   Prominent                                 FLUTING,  absent                                                               IMMATURE                                                                       FLORAL TUBE                                                                              Flared   Flared   Conical  Flared                                    OUTLINE                                                                        FLORAL TUBE                                                                              8 mm     7 mm     6.8 mm   6.8 mm                                    DIAMETER                                                                       FLORAL TUBE                                                                              Yellow   Red/     Green    Green                                     COLOR,    green    brown                                                       MIDPOINT                                                                       FLORAL TUBE                                                                              Yellow   Red/     Green    Purple                                    COLOR,    green    brown             brown                                     DISTAL                                                                         END                                                                            FLOWERING Broad    Broad    Narrow   Broad                                     STEM                                                                           SHAPE                                                                          ______________________________________                                     

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chamelaucium interspecific hybrid plant named Madonna, as illustrated and described. 